Exploring Sacred Plants in Modern Healing: Ayahuasca and Peyote

In recent years, ancient plant medicines like Ayahuasca and Peyote have gained significant attention in the realms of spirituality, mental health, and personal transformation. Rooted in Indigenous ceremonial traditions, these sacred plants are now being studied and, in some cases, incorporated into therapeutic frameworks for their potential to support deep psychological healing. This article explores the nature of these plants, their ceremonial use, modern therapeutic applications, and the crucial ethical considerations regarding cultural respect and environmental sustainability.

Understanding the Plants

Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew traditionally used in the Amazon Basin. It combines two main plants: Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine that contains MAO-inhibiting beta-carbolines, and Psychotria viridis, a shrub rich in DMT (dimethyltryptamine). The combination creates a powerful visionary experience lasting several hours. It is revered as a "plant teacher" by many Indigenous cultures.

Peyote

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a small, spineless cactus native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It contains mescaline, a potent hallucinogen. For thousands of years, Indigenous groups such as the Huichol and the Comanche have used Peyote in spiritual and healing rituals.

Shamanic Rituals and Ceremonies

Ayahuasca Ceremonies

Ayahuasca ceremonies are typically conducted at night under the guidance of a shaman or curandero.

Participants undergo preparation involving a strict diet, abstinence, and mental intention-setting. This intention-setting process involves focusing on specific emotional, spiritual, or psychological goals the individual wishes to address during the ceremony. Participants are encouraged to reflect deeply, journal, or meditate in the days leading up to the ceremony, clarifying what they seek to heal or understand. This process plays a crucial role in shaping the visionary journey itself. Those who approach the ceremony with clear and sincere intentions often report more meaningful insights and emotionally resonant experiences. The set intention acts like a compass during the altered state, helping participants navigate symbolic visions, confront repressed emotions, or access profound spiritual guidance. Without a strong intention, the experience may feel more chaotic or overwhelming, lacking the personal direction that makes the ceremony transformative.

The shaman administers the brew and sings icaros (healing songs) to guide the experience.

These songs are considered to carry healing power and are used to guide participants through their visionary experiences. Each icaro may be specific to a plant, a spirit, or an intention—such as cleansing, protection, or emotional release. The melodies and lyrics often come to shamans through spiritual training or direct inspiration during Ayahuasca journeys themselves. Icaros are a fundamental part of the ceremony, helping to shape the energetic space and support the psychological and spiritual processes of those participating.

Participants often experience vivid visions, emotional purging, and spiritual insights. Instruments like rattles, feathers, and sacred tobacco (mapacho) are used to manage the energetic space.

Peyote Ceremonies

Peyote ceremonies, often associated with the Native American Church (NAC), take place around a sacred fire and last through the night.

The Native American Church is a syncretic spiritual movement that combines Christian teachings with Indigenous Peyote rituals. It was formally established in the early 20th century and is legally recognized in the United States as a religious organization, allowing the ceremonial use of Peyote among its members.

A Roadman leads the prayerful event, guiding participants through every stage of the ceremony. The Roadman is responsible for maintaining the spiritual integrity of the gathering—opening the space with prayers, initiating the fire, leading Peyote songs (often accompanied by the water drum and gourd rattle), and offering personal or biblical reflections. He ensures the distribution of Peyote, oversees the sequence of prayers and songs, and supports participants as they experience visions or emotional release. At dawn, the Roadman leads the closing prayers and rituals, often involving the sharing of food and collective gratitude.

Another important ceremonial figure is the Firekeeper, who is tasked with tending the sacred fire throughout the night. The fire is considered the heart of the ceremony, symbolizing spiritual illumination, divine presence, and the link between the physical and spiritual worlds. The Firekeeper ensures the fire is never extinguished, carefully adding wood and maintaining its intensity as a focus for prayer and reflection. This role is deeply spiritual and often requires the Firekeeper to remain silent and vigilant, in tune with the energy of the group and the rhythms of the ritual.

The cactus is ingested in small doses, often multiple times, and the ceremony emphasizes connection with nature, ancestors, and community. Sacred objects such as eagle feather fans and water drums are used, and the experience is deeply rooted in spiritual reflection, healing, and communal solidarity.

Therapeutic Uses in Modern Mental Health

Both Ayahuasca and Peyote are now being researched for their potential to treat various mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders.

Ayahuasca has shown promise in clinical settings for its ability to facilitate emotional catharsis, enhance introspective insight, and reframe traumatic memories in a way that fosters healing and acceptance. Some studies have noted its capacity to increase neuroplasticity and modulate serotonin pathways, which may underlie its antidepressant effects.

Peyote, used within supportive communal frameworks, has been linked to long-term emotional resilience, reduced substance abuse, and improved psychological well-being among Indigenous populations. It is particularly noted for promoting a sense of spiritual connectedness, identity integration, and social support—factors known to buffer against mental health challenges.

The ceremonial context itself may contribute significantly to these outcomes, highlighting the importance of setting, intention, and cultural context in achieving therapeutic benefit.

While the Western interest grows, experts stress the need for structured integration practices and proper psychological support before and after the ceremonies to maximize benefits and reduce risks.

Ethical Considerations and Cultural Collaboration

The rising global interest in these plant medicines brings serious ethical responsibilities. It is essential to:

Respect Indigenous intellectual and spiritual traditions. This includes honoring the epistemologies, ceremonial practices, and oral histories that have safeguarded these medicines for generations. These traditions are not merely cultural artifacts, but living systems of knowledge and healing that require contextual understanding and reverence. Engaging with them respectfully means acknowledging their depth, seeking consent for their use, involving traditional knowledge holders in decision-making, and resisting the appropriation or commercialization of sacred practices without appropriate cultural permission and benefit-sharing.
Provide fair compensation to traditional healers. This includes recognizing the deep expertise and cultural authority of Indigenous healers and ensuring they are justly remunerated for their time, knowledge, and spiritual guidance. Compensation should reflect the value of their contributions—not only during ceremonies but also in preparation, follow-up care, and the transmission of sacred knowledge. Collaborative projects, retreats, and research initiatives must include clear agreements that prioritize equitable financial arrangements, capacity-building, and ongoing benefit-sharing with the communities involved.
Ensure ecological sustainability by protecting plant habitats. This involves actively supporting the conservation of native ecosystems where Ayahuasca and Peyote naturally grow. Overharvesting due to increasing global demand poses serious threats to these plants’ survival. Initiatives should include reforestation efforts, cultivation programs led by local communities, and legal protections for endangered species. Respecting traditional harvesting practices, limiting commercial exploitation, and educating consumers about sustainability are essential steps to prevent ecological degradation and honor the plants’ sacred status within their native environments.
Collaborate with Indigenous communities, not extract from them. True collaboration requires long-term relationship-building based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. It means including Indigenous voices at every stage of decision-making—whether in research, retreat planning, or policy development. This also involves recognizing Indigenous sovereignty over their cultural and spiritual practices, ensuring their intellectual property rights are upheld, and offering tangible benefits such as funding, training, and infrastructure to support community-led initiatives. Moving beyond extraction demands an ethical shift from appropriation to allyship, where reciprocity and empowerment are central.